HAMILTON COUNTY — A Hamilton County judge on Thursday rejected a plea deal for a suspended Catholic priest accused of sexually abusing a teenage boy in 2016.
Hamilton Superior Judge Michael Casati rejected the agreement that would have allowed David Marcotte to plead guilty to one count of dissemination of matter harmful to minor, a level 6 felony.
In exchange, Hamilton County Prosecutor D. Lee Buckingham II's office would have dismissed charges of child solicitation and vicarious sexual gratification.
Marcotte now faces trial on the three felony counts. Casati scheduled a jury trial for Oct. 10.
"We're just pleased with the results and that this guy is actually going to have to stand trial for his sins and crimes," the father of the now 19-year-old victim told WRTV in a telephone interview. WRTV is not naming the father because the station does not typically identify alleged victims of sexual abuse.
The boy was 14 and 15 when Marcotte allegedly texted him inappropriate photos and engaged in sexual conduct via social media platforms, court documents say.
Marcotte met the boy in 2016 when he worked at St. Malachy Church and School in Brownsburg. The abuse allegedly happened in 2017 and 2018, according to a probable cause affidavit.
At the time, Marcotte was also assigned to St. Martin of Tours Parish in Martinsville. He was serving as a chaplain at Roncalli High School, the University of Indianapolis and provided sacramental assistance at Saints Francis and Clare Parish in Greenwood when the Archdiocese of Indianapolis suspended him from the priesthood in 2019.
Contact WRTV reporter Vic Ryckaert at victor.ryckaert@wrtv.com or on Twitter: @vicryc.
-
Indiana launches 'Smart SNAP' banning sugary drinks, candy from food benefits
Indiana will become one of the first states in the nation to restrict SNAP food stamp purchases of sugary drinks and candy when new rules take effect January 1, 2026.
Indiana migration balanced for second year in a row
For the second year in a row, the number of people moving into and out of Indiana is greater than the number of people leaving.
Future of I-65, I-70: INDOT concludes ProPEL Indy study
I-65 and I-70 are two of the main ways to get in and around the Indy metro. The city's transportation network is due for a major revamp in the coming years.
IMPD specialized teams recover nearly 2,000 guns in 2025
Newly released numbers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department highlight the significant impact of specialized teams working to reduce violent crime across the Circle City.
